Sparkly Star and Mystic Vine

It's been such a busy week with it being half term and having some behind the scenes preparation for Tonic Studios that I didn't even get chance to get a card on for the Tonic Studios Ideal World Pick Of The Day, so as they say, better late than never, here's my contribution.

I chose an 8" x 8" white card blank, layered with sparkly silver card which was then mostly covered with a white layer.

I cut the Mystic Vine large corner die out of silver glitter card and left the little bits of scrap in that I would normally pop out then cut again in white and layered on top so that the scrap pieces show through.  I repeated this for the opposite corner.

The Star Bauble die was cut from silver glitter card and white card and layered.

The card was finished off with a couple of star shaped gems and a big white silky bow.

I hope you like it,

Karen x

Merry Christmas Sentiment Dies Bauble Card

Just a quickie today.  I also apologise for my absence, things are a little busy here with some Tonic Studios preparation. 

Today's card is a gold square card blank, layered with the largest die out of the Tonic Studios Merry Christmas Sentiment dies cut in green and glued down.  The next layer was cut in red glitter card with gold backing to show up the greeting and stuck down at a 90 degree angle to the base layer, points to the centre.  The smallest layer was cut again in green with a gold backing to show the holly detail.

When I made this, I didn't have a lot of Christmas dies so I improvised, the bauble was made by cutting five small scalloped circles, scoring and folding them in half and sticking them back to back but with the first and last layers being stuck on to the card base.

A small length of holly printed ribbon was added to resemble a hanger and a hand tied bow was stuck just at the top of the bauble.

The card was finished off with some tiny red gems to look like holly berries.

I hope you like this and that it inspires you to use what you have to make something different :)

Karen x

Frosty Christmas Poinsettia Swag

For today's card I've gone for a frosty Blue Glitter and White card theme.

I started out with a scalloped 6" x 6" card blank and die cut one of the Tonic Studios Christmas Wishes header dies into it, I cut a blue glitter backing piece by just using just the shape cutting die without the pattern one.  I glued this on with silicone glue because of the glitter on the card.

I cut some layers for my card and rounded the corners to tie in with the card scallops and again using silicone glue because of the glitter, stuck them together and double sided taped them to the base card.

The Joy To The World sentiment was from the Tonic Studios Round Cracker Die set which was cut in blue glitter and white to match the base card, layered slightly offset and stuck in place with silicone glue for dimension.

The Poinsettia Swag was made out of the Tonic Studios Rococo Poinsettia Wreath die which I cut three times in blue glitter card and four times out of white card which were then trimmed down for layering.  I glued the blue ones onto the card itself angling the two at the sides and adding just the flower off the third onto the centre.  I shaped the white flowers with the Tonic Studios Floral Crafters Tool Set, this is fabulous for shaping flowers as it has a few sizes of embossing tool and a foam mat. These white poinsettias were stuck in place with silicone glue for dimension and a tiny blue flower added to the centre to hide the glue and tiny white flowers layered over the blue glitter base flowers.

I added a few blue and white pearls to the flower centres just to cover the holes and finished with a white bow.

I hope you like it

Karen x

Twelve Days of Christmas Wreath

Good Morning, following on from the Tonic Studios Forever Memories Take Off Deal on Create and Craft, I've decided to show you what I did with my Twelve Days of Christmas pack of printed papers.  They are fantastic quality and worthy of showing off :)

To make the wreath I bought a 35cm polystyrene ring from my local craft shop.  I cut strips of paper 4cm wide but found I needed a longer length than just A4 so I cut a strip in half and stuck it on to the end, making sure the pattern was following in the right direction.

I inked the edges of my strips using my Aged Photograph Distress Ink pad by Tim Holtz and stuck double sided tape along each long side and added some small strips to one end.  I used thirty strips of paper all together and looped these one by one around the ring slightly overlapping, sticking them together as accurately as possible and making sure all my joins for making up the extra length were at the back.

I trimmed the ends into a dovetail and using a sponge, inked those too, just to match.

I die cut some flowers using the Oriental Lily die set, inked the petal edges, curled them with a scissors and stuck them onto a punched circle with some silicone glue for dimension.  For the centres, I punched the stamens from the Peruvian Lily, Evening Primrose and Corncockle Punch and Stamp set and curled them in on themselves with an embossing tool and foam mat.  Before sticking these in place I die cut some Sweeping Pampas elements and stuck those underneath.

After trying several failed attempts with different ribbons, I settled on the Tonic Studios Large Lacy Bow for the top as nothing else looked right, all my ribbons seemed to be the wrong shade.

I glued some ribbon to the back to hang but I think I'm going to invest in a Wreath Hanger as I'd hate for this to fall after all the work that's gone into it, it is only paper after all and would probably damage quite easily so I'm going to err on the side of caution with this.

I hope you like it and that it inspires you to be creative with whats left of your paper packs.

Karen x

Winter Wishes Baubles

Today's card is made using the Rococo Bauble die and The Winter Wishes from the Christmas Wishes header fold die set.  I wanted to use pearlescent card for this so I had to cut my own 8" x 8" card blank again but this time after cutting an A4 sheet down to 8" in width I only made a pencil line there the 8" length score line would be as I didn't want a score line spoiling the centre of my header die cut.  I also cut a separate 8" x 8" piece for the back of my card which obviously doesn't get stuck on until the header has been cut out.

To cut the header die, I lined up the little notches in the bottom of the shape die centrally on my 8" pencil line, I taped this down and ran it through the cutting machine.  Next was the pattern part of the die, I lined this up, taped it down well and because its cutting in pretty much the centre of the board then it does take a few passes and possibly a few shims to get a nice clean cut but persevere because it really is worth it.  Once I was happy with my header die cut, I placed the card back on my score board and scored the two sides.  I covered the small back flap with double sided tape and stuck my card back in place.

I cut a layer of silver glitter card and a layer of white pearlescent card for the top layer which I stuck in place with silicone glue as I was sticking to glitter card.  I die cut three white baubles and three silver glitter circles and glued these together, added three strips of thin ribbon to my card where I wanted the baubles to hang and stuck them in place with 3d foam.  I hand tied three bows out of wide ribbon and glued these to the tops of the baubles.

I hope you like it,
Karen x

Neapolitan Butterfly Birthday

Just a quickie today, in my favourite Neapolitan ice cream colours.

I'm sure you don't need me to talk you through this one so I'll briefly tell you what dies I used where.

I started with a square chocolate brown card blank, layered with baby pink and vanilla which was textured with the Amelia embossing folder.

I added the filigree semi circle from the Butterfly Princess Semi Die set and layered the 'tail' from the Large Lacy Bows Die set to which I added the Birthday cut from the Happy Birthday in the Everyday Sentiments set.

I die cut one of the Arboreal Dreams in brown for the bottom corner just to have something for the butterfly to sit on.  The butterflies were cut from the Layering Butterflies Papillion Pair Die set.

My card was finished with a cream satin ribbon and a hand tied bow to match along with a few little pink pearls on the butterfly bodies.

Hope you like it,
Karen x

Christmas Double Easel Card

For the double easel card I kind of made it up as I went along but I'll try to measure it out for you as I'm explaining!

I started off with an A5 card blank (sheet of A4 card scored and folded in half) and cut one side in half from the centre line to the score line to make the two easel folding panels.  I then cut these two panels so they were square and scored them from the outside corner diagonally to the centre of the card.

I die cut my two gold backing panels  and glued them onto my folded easels, lining up from the centre.

For the front fold I found that I had too much card so I trimmed 3cm off then scored at 3cm and 6cm, these were folded to form the mountain fold at the front.  I die cut the swirly strip from the Gallant Gate die set out of cream and just the edge out of gold to give it a backing, these were layered together and a ribbon tied to the front and stuck in place.  This decorative strip was then attached to the front of the mountain fold.  

For the central panel, I layered a strip of gold card with a strip of card I had embossed with the Idyllics Garland Fancy embossing folder and stuck them in place.

For the left panel I die cut the edged square panel from Deck the Halls Sentiment Frame, the layering square from the Garland Fancy set in gold and in cream, patterned the cream layer and cut out the centre.  These were layered together with 3d foam and glued onto the main card with a die cut greeting.  A matching bow was stuck to this panel along with a gold pearl.

The right panel started with the cream square which was patterned with the Deck the Halls sentiment frame. The Rococo Christmas tree was die cut in green gloss card and gold glitter card, the little stars and the pot were cut out of the gold glitter and stuck in place.  The tree was stuck the the panel with 3d foam which was then glued in place on the card.  The card was finished with some red pearls as baubles on the tree.

Hope you like it

Karen x

Wedding Card with Gallant Gate Strip Die

Just in case the larger cards are not to your taste, today's card is a standard A5 folded card.  I've layered with gold mirri and with cream pearlescent on a matching cream pearlescent card blank.  I cut all elements of the Gallant Gate Strip die together to make the biggest panel I could out of it which I stuck on the prepared card blank. 

I cut the Indulgence Affections Base Die in gold and cream and patterned the cream layer, then the Mr & Mrs Heart Die outer edge in gold then again in matching cream and again die cut the pattern into this cream layer, glue the layers together.  Using 3d foam pads, layer the hearts together centrally on your card front.

Die cut the two sizes of layers and the tails of the Small Lacy Bow die set, patterning them with the same pattern.  Assemble the bow as per the instructions on the pack and stick to the front of the card just below the heart.

Much more simple than usual but an actual quick 'required' card, for a wedding this weekend.

Hope you like it,

Karen x

Pretty in Pink

Another 8" x 8" card, I think the Idyllics really lend themselves to this size card.  For the curved front card I made an 8" x 8" card blank from A4 white pearlescent card.  

The front curved panel was cut at 8" x 11" with a score line 1" in at either end giving you a 9" panel to decorate and curve.  I started off by lining up the large die in the centre of the curved panel and die cutting it.  I reinforced the open patterned panels by backing them with strips of pink card. I cut the square panel out of the centre, I cut the patterned square die out of this and cut another square out of pink card. Layer these together and die cut a sentiment to layer on top.  Line up the centre of the card panel and stick the square in place on the actual card blank.

For either side of the aperture, die cut one of the strips out of the new Verso Clematis Climber Strip Die set out of white pearlescent card and cut a  backing layer out of pink.  Stick these in place.

Assemble the card by sticking the curved front panel in place, to finish the card off, die cut the layers of the Small Lacy Die set, pink base layers and white pearlescent patterned layers, assemble the now and stick to the bottom of the aperture.

A pretty simple card that looks anything but :)

Hope you like it and don't forget to keep tuning into Create and Craft for the Tonic Studios Pick of the Week which include the beautiful Idyllics Dies.

Karen x

Watch Me Card, Exciting News and Idyllics Launch

I am very excited to be able to show you today's card,  it's my very first card for Tonic Studios as part of their blogging design team.  I am just waiting to get my blog linked to Blog Tonic.  Let me tell you when I received my package of beautiful exclusive Tonic dies, I couldn't believe my luck, thank you Tonic Studios x

Today's card is an 8" x 8"  offset gatefold.  To make one of these, cut the back panel, 8" x 8", the smaller panel on the right hand side measures 2" but with an extra 1" for overlap and to secure at the back, so a 3" x 8" piece is needed, this needs to be scored at 2" and folded.  The left hand panel is the remaining 6" with a 1" fold over, so a 7" x 8" piece needs to be cut.  As I was cutting the Idyllic die shape into the folded edge if my card, I only marked my score line with a pencil, lightly on each end.  Place the scoring Idyllic die lined up to your score line marks and tape into position with low tack tape.  When you run this grouch your die cutter it will score the sides and cut the edge of the central panel for you.

Next you need to cut the long Idyllics panel, again out of matching cream card.  This is a verso die so once you've cut the pattern, you need to cut the edge with the other thin edging die.  Cut a backing layer from brown, using the edging die either side, measuring against the cream top layer.  Glue these together.

Cut the central panel outline in cream and another in brown,  cut the pattern into the cream one and layer together so the brown is showing through, using 3d foam pads, stick this onto your long panel. 

When I saw these Idyllic embossing and die sets, my first thought was that they reminded me of a wristwatch so I cut out the central element of the Watch Me die set in brown, I needed a backing layer in cream but as there wasn't one included in the set, I embossed the die instead of simply cutting it out, I then snipped around the edge with a small decoupage scissors and layered them together.  As I just wanted the watch shape I trimmed top and bottom so it was just the circle, added 3d foam pads and stuck it to my long Idyllics strip.  

I embossed a piece of card with the matching embossing folder then lined it up using the long strip as a guide, trimmed it to fit and stuck it in place.  I added 3d foam pads to the long strip and placed that against the cut out edge of the card.  I cut out the straight panel from the Gallant Gate Verso Strip die set in brown and attached that close to the edge.

For the small panel, I layered with the brown and cut a small cream strip for the top which I embossed, I added two lengths of thin brown organza ribbon which I crossed over in the centre and attached to the back of the strip before sticking into position.  I cut one of the sentiments in cream with a brown backing layer, glued them together and stuck them over the point where the ribbon crosses with 3d foam pads.

Not a jewel or gem in sight, very little ribbon, I think this can definitely be described as a man's card :)

I hope you like the card and are going to join Jodie on Create & Craft at 12 noon for the Pick of the Week.

Stay tuned over the next few days for more cards using this beautiful range of dies.

Thanks

Karen x

Framed Birthday

Just a quick card today as I have some exciting makes for this weekend, follow me to find out more.

I made a square card from an A4 sheet by scoring on my board at half A4, turning my card 90 degrees and scoring half A4 again.  Trim off the smaller section and fold along the remaining score line to give you a square card.

Just to add some depth, I 'double' layered using purple pearlescent paper, white card and purple pearlescent paper again.  I then cut my top white card layer and embossed it using the Tonic Studios Roseanna A4 embossing folder.

To cut my aperture, I turned the embossed layer over and placed the frame die I was using, in this case the Wild Briar Border from the Tonic Studios Topper Set. After placing it where I wanted, I drew around it in pencil, then measured 1cm in from all sides and drew those lines in too.

I lined up the corner of the die and drew around the rounded corners and finally cut it out.

Add a small piece of ribbon to either side of the aperture then I die cut my frame out of matching white card and using some double sided tape, stuck it in place with the swirly edge showing in the aperture.  I used one of the sentiments from the Loving Birthday Topper Pack and lined it up in the frame using some low tack tape, I flipped the whole thing over and added my double sided tape to the sentiment, lining it back up and sticking in place.

Remove the low tack tape and add some 3d foam pads to hold the frame slightly away from the sentiment and stick in place.  Add a few layered punched flowers, a few pearl centres and a nice big matching bow to complete.

Nice and simple but very effective, hope you like it,

Karen x

Beautiful Butterflies

To make this card I started out with an A4 sheet of card which I scored at A4 gate, Half A4, then I turned the card 180 degrees and scored A4 gate again, this will give you four equal panels. Still using your score board, turn your card 90 degrees so a long side is against the bar and on the centre line make a mark using your scorer or embossing tool at the Gate A4 line, just to mark where it is, now, line up this mark with the top one of the Gate A4 lines and score, repeat for the other Gate A4 line giving you a ‘V’ shape at the centre top of your card. Fold all score lines, Gate lines will be Valley folds and with the 'V' as a valley fold but the rest of that centre line as a Mountain fold, you will then see the card beginning to take shape.


For the lengthened side panels, take some nice quality paper (I like to use pearlescent for the sheen), fold it in half and cut the width of your panel (7.5cm) plus the width of your decorative punch (4.5cm), I used Tonic Studios Dotty Lace Border so I needed my folded paper to measure 12cm from the fold.  Because I used paper I managed to punch through both layered together and because I punched from the folded edge, they stayed together until the end.  Repeat this for the opposite flap.  To adhere these to your card use double sided tape either side of the card panel but also some tiny dots of glue here and there on the exposed punched area so they will stick to each other.  These need to be lined up perfectly.

For the centre two panels I punched another strip of pearlescent paper either side but found that it was too wide for my panel so I trimmed my punched strip, mirroring both sides until it fit! I backed these with white pearlescent paper and stuck them in place.  The triangular die cut panel in the 'V' is one of the Tonic Studios Verso Decorative Envelope Dies (set 1) which has been trimmed directly around the pattern die to make it fit in place. I die cut some of the tiny butterflies which came with the Verso Butterfly Purse Corners.  I also die cut some small layering panels for them to sit on, for these I used one of the smaller layers out of the Indulgence Keepsake Tent Gift Bag die set, I set these on 3d foam for added dimension.  I glittered the butterflies and stuck them in place folding back the wings.

 I finished the card by adding some double layered ribbon, pink on top of a wider white and added a simple looped bow and of course some tiny clear gems to catch the light.

Hope you like it,
Karen x

Glittery Circles

My apologies for the poor photographs.  I made this card a couple of weeks ago before I realised that having a lot of mirri card and glitter wouldn't actually photograph all that well! I'll still talk you through it as its so much nicer 'in the flesh' so to speak.

Ok, for this one I started off by making a couple of square gate fold card blanks out of A4 sheets of card by scoring along the half a4 line of your score board, you also need to score the gate a4 line, turn and score half a4 again and cut this smaller panel off.

I taped them together with double sided tape by laying them out on my desk, plain panels together, with one opening to the left and one opening to the right then lining up the plain panels so they lie directly over one another.  To trim the fronts, place on your trimmer and cut from each fold line diagonally across the gate fold down to the corner.  Fold the two gate fold triangular panels back on themselves.

For the main panel decoration I used silver mirri to cut the largest scalloped square layering die that would fit, I layered a square of pink pearlescent paper on top of this and added the silver mirri corners from the Tonic Studios Intrica Beautiful Bramble Square die set.  I die cut the both sides of the You Make Everyday Perfect Semi Dies but for the outside I just used a scalloped circle, again from Tonic's layering dies.  I was trying to think of alternative ways to stick these die cuts down so for this one I cut a plain circle the same size as my die cut and as I couldn't find my sheets of sticky film, I completely covered the front of the circle with double sided tape.  I carefully placed the die cut on top as there's absolutely no room for error with these beautifully intricate designs and such a sticky background and covered the exposed sticky areas with a pale pink iridescent ultra fine glitter.  I mounted this circle with 3d foam pads and adhered in place, adding some tiny pink gems on the little hearts in the die cut.

For the larger of the front panels I punched a strip of matching pink pearlescent paper with the Intrica Rose Border punch on either side and again, as I did with the circle, I covered the panel with double sided tape, placed the punch strip, trimmed it down and covered the exposed sticky area, this time with a crystal iridescent ultra fine glitter.  I obviously repeated this on the other side, to match, adding a tiny gem to the centres of all of the tiny roses.

The small triangles at the very front were just layered with the matching pink pearlescent paper and a matching corner was added as before with some matching tiny gems.  These were finished off with a couple of simple iridescent looped bows, finished with a gem.

Very sparkly, I think you'll agree, but we have to cater for all of our diverse tastes.  Hope you like it,

Karen x

Such A Perfect Day...

I've had this card in my head for quite a while so I thought it's time I made it :)

I love the more filigree designs brought out by Tonic Studios and these Verso Semi dies do not disappoint.  I made a 6" x 6" Double Fold Gate fold base card from some trimmed down A4 sheets of cream card and cut the You Make Every Day Perfect into my fold back panels, along with the smallest Verso Ivy Bridge corners.  I backed these panels with black card. The Organza bow was attached to a small layering panel from the Indulgence Keepsake Tent Gift Bag die set and stuck to the left side of the card.

The inside of the card was layered with black and cream layers then I added the Indulgence Affections Heart Vines die set cut in black then layered again with the cream heart that had the Verso pattern cut into it, finished with a matching black organza bow.

The card was finished off with a few tiny black pearls.

Both simple cards for today but I hope you like them.

Karen x

Bunting Love

Today's card is an 8" x 8" gate fold card which I made by again trimming down some A4 sheets of cream card and sticking them together.  I layered both front panels with brown, then a patterned paper which I've had for years so I really don't know what brand it is unfortunately, then another layer, this time cream to match the base card.  I added a length of 16mm Berisford grosgrain ribbon.

For the bunting, I used one of the layering dies from the Tonic Studios Indulgence Keepsake Multi Sided Lantern Box Die.  First I cut the plain triangles from patterned paper then cut them again from light pink card before cutting again with the filigree layer die.  After sticking these together I cut the L,O,V, E letters from a Tonic Studios sentiment die, I layered these on with 3d foam pads and attached them to the front of the card, again with 3d foam pads.

For the main panel, I die cut the Indulgence Affections Square Vines Base Die and added the To Both Of You die to the centre, I layered to match the base card with patterned paper, then brown and finally with cream.  This was attached to the left side with 3d foam placed on one side of the panel.

The card was finished with simple layered bows made from loops of matching ribbon, a couple of tiny gems and some pink hearts which I cut out of the smallest heart in the First Crush Cutting Die set.

Hope you like it,
Karen x